Roof securing system

ABSTRACT

A roof securing system for use in the construction of a roof structure having an arrangement of spaced apart, parallel support beams and an arrangement of roof panels disposed in overlying and spanning relation atop at least two adjacently positioned support beams. The securing system includes at least one elongate metal strap with a top side and a bottom side, and including a central zone and a pair of oppositely disposed distal zones. The central zone of the strap is adapted to span at least one of the roof panels and has a spaced arrangement of pointed prongs extending downwardly from the bottom side for fastened attachment into the roof panel by hammering the top side of the strap. The strap is structured and disposed to be fastened at its opposite distal zones to one of the support beams such that the strap and the roof panel become securely anchored to the support beam.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a roof securing system and, moreparticularly, to a strap for securing a plywood roof panel to anunderlying support beam of a roof structure.

2. Discussion of the Related Art

A typical roof structure, particularly in residential home construction,uses a parallel arrangement of trusses that are spaced apart to providesupport beams upon which individual plywood roof panels are secured. Thetrusses, including the support beams, as well as the roofing panels, areusually wood products. For instance, the trusses are constructed of woodbeams and the roofing panels typically consist of ¾ inch plywood sheetsthat have a large surface area and side edges. The plywood sheets arefastened to the support beams with the side edges of the plywood edgesdisposed in abutting relation to one another. The individual plywoodsheets (i.e., roof panels) are secured to the support beams with the useof nails that are hammered through the thickness of the roof panels,near the side edges, and into the underlying support beams.

It has been discovered that the use of nails to secure roof panels tothe support beams is not sufficient to withstand the tremendous upliftforces exerted by hurricane strength winds. My prior invention, asdisclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,390,460, provides a roof securing systemthat includes a plurality of steel straps to securely anchor the roofpanels to the underlying support beams. The straps of my prior inventioninclude a central zone that extends over the top surface of the roofpanel, and opposite distal zones that are adapted to be wrapped aroundand nailed to the support beams. The distal end zones of the strap arewrapped around the support beams by bending the strap with the use of ahammer so that each distal end zone of the strap engages the oppositeside faces and the bottom face of the support beam. Once the distal endzones of the strap are bent and wrapped around the support beam, thedistal end zones of the strap are nailed to the support beam.

While the roof securing system of my prior invention is a significantadvancement in the roof construction industry, and provides a highlyeffective means for anchoring the roof panels to the support beams, aproblem arises when attempting to bend the distal end zones of the straparound the beams. Specifically, when hammering the ends of the strap, inorder to bend the strap around the support beam, the central zone of thestrap tends to slide and move out of proper alignment on the top surfaceof the roof panel as a result of the force from the hammer. My presentinvention, as described and claimed herein, provides an improvement tomy prior roof securing strap and overcomes the problem of the centralzone of the strap moving out of proper alignment when bending the strapends around the support beam. Specifically, my present inventionprovides for a plurality of pointed prongs disposed in spacedarrangement along the length of the central zone, and extendingdownwardly and generally perpendicular from the bottom side of thecentral zone of the strap. The pointed prongs are specificallystructured and disposed to penetrate through the top surface of theunderlying roof panel by applying a hammer force to the top side of thecentral zone when the strap is properly aligned on the roof panel, priorto bending of the distal end zones of the underlying support beam, tothereby attach the straps to the roof panel and hold the strap in thedesired proper alignment.

OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTION

Considering the foregoing, it is a primary object of the presentinvention to provide an improved roof securing system that uses one ormore straps for securing wood roof panels to underlying support beams,and wherein the straps include a spaced arrangement of pointed prongsfor penetrating into the roof panels to increase holding strength.

It is still a further object of the present invention to provide animproved roof securing system, including the roof securing strap asdescribed above, and wherein the strap is easier to install compared topreviously known roof strap devices.

It is still a further object of the present invention to provide animproved roof securing system including a one or more roof straps, asdescribed above, and wherein the roof straps include a plurality ofpointed prongs extending downwardly from a bottom side of the strap, inspaced arrangement, for penetrating attachment into the top surface ofwood roof panels to thereby hold the strap in place during installation,while also increasing the overall holding strength of the strap on theroof system under hurricane force winds.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention arereadily apparent with reference to the detailed description anddrawings.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to an improved roof securing systemfor providing increased strength and resistance to wind uplift forces inthe construction of a roof structure. The system is intended for usewith a roof structure of the type that includes a spaced, parallelarrangement of support beams, each with a top face, a bottom face, andopposite side faces, and an arrangement of roof panels. The roof panels,which are primarily plywood sheets, have a top surface and a bottomsurface and are positioned and disposed in overlying, spanning relationalong the top face of at least two adjacently positioned support beams,to thereby enclose the roof structure.

The system of the present invention provides at least one strap, havinga top side and a bottom side, and a central zone between a pair ofoppositely disposed distal zones. In a preferred embodiment, the strapis made of 14 gauge steel for sufficient strength. The central zone ofthe strap is adapted to span at least one of the roof panels of the roofstructure with a bottom side of the strap disposed in mating engagementof the top surface of the roof panel. The central zone of the strapincludes a spaced arrangement of pointed prongs that extend downwardlyfrom the bottom side of the strap. The pointed prongs are structured tobe fastened into the underlying roof panel by applying a striking forceto the top side of the strap with a hammer. This serves to anchor thestrap in place on the roof panel so that it does not move from itsproperly aligned position prior to securing the opposite distal zones ofthe strap to the underlying support beam. The pointed prongs alsoreinforce the holding strength of the strap on the roof panel. Thedistal end zones of the strap extend beyond the ends of the roof paneland are specifically structured and disposed to be fastened to thesupport beam by nailing the strap to the opposite side faces and thebottom face of the support beam. As a result of the wrap around securingof the distal end zones of the strap about the side faces and bottomface of the support beam, as well as the penetrating attachment of thepointed prongs into the roof panel, the strap and roof panel becomesecurely anchored to the underlying support beam.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a fuller understanding of the nature of the present invention,reference should be made to the following detailed description taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the strap of the roof securingsystem;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the strap of the roof securing system;

FIGS. 3-6 illustrate a sequential series, in perspective view, ofinstallation of a distal end zone of the strap to a support beam of theroof structure;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the strap of the roof securing system;and

FIG. 8 is a top perspective view of a roof structure showing anarrangement of parallel support beams and roof panels secured to thesupport beams and further illustrating the roof securing system of thepresent invention installed on the roof structure to securely anchor theroof panels to the underlying support beams.

Like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several viewsof the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The roof securing system is shown throughout the several views of thedrawings and is generally indicated as 10. The roof securing system 10is specifically structured for use in the construction of a roof havinga plurality of support beams 70 and an arrangement of roof panels 80positioned in adjacent abutting engagement with one another. The roofpanels 80 are attached to the beams 70 to provide a roof deck thatcompletely covers the openings between the beams. Each of the supportbeams 70 has a top face 72, a bottom face 74, and a pair of oppositeside faces 76, 78. The top face 72 of the support beam is adapted toreceive the roofing panels thereon, so that each roof panel 80 spansbetween at least two adjacently positioned support beams 70. The roofpanels 80 are first attached to the support beams with the use of nailsthat are hammered through the roof panels 80 and into the underlyingbeams 70.

The improved roofing system of the present invention provides areinforced, anchored attachment of the roof panels 80 to the underlyingsupport beams 70. According to a preferred embodiment, the improved roofsecuring system 10 includes a plurality of elongate straps 20 formed ofgalvanized steel. The straps 20 are preferably of a strength of at least14 gauge galvanized steel. Each strap 20 includes a top side 21 and abottom side 22. Each strap 20 further includes a central zone 24 and apair of oppositely disposed distal end zones 26 and 28. The central zone24 of the strap 20 is adapted to span across the top of at least one ofthe roof panels 80 with the bottom side 22 of the strap disposed inmating, overlying engagement with the top surface 82 of the roof panel80. The length of the central zone is specifically sized to correspondto the dimension of the roof panel measure perpendicularly betweenopposite side edges. Accordingly, the central zone of the strap spansacross the top surface of the roof panel in perpendicular relation tothe opposite side edges 84, 86 of the roof panel. The opposite distalend zones 26 and 28 of the strap are adapted to extend downwardly fromthe central zone 24 so as to straddle the roof panel along the oppositeside edges 84, 86.

The central zone 24 of the strap 20 is provided with a plurality ofpointed prongs 30. The pointed prongs 30 are disposed in spaced relationalong a length of the central zone and extend downwardly, generallyperpendicular to the bottom side 22 of the strap 20. In a preferredembodiment, the pointed prongs 30 are also provided on the distal endzones 23 and 28 and are formed by stamping the central zone and distalend zones of the strap to the cut triangular configurations, as seen inFIG. 2. More specifically, each pointed prong 30 is formed by stampingthe strap with two sides 32, 34 of an acute triangular formation withthe base 36 of the triangular formation remaining in tact as an integralpart of the strap. The pointed prongs 30 are then bent to extendperpendicularly from the bottom side 22 of the strap with the apex 38 ofthe cut triangular formation directed downwardly relative to the centralzone of the strap and inwardly relative to the distal end zones, as seenin FIG. 1, so that the apex 38 defines the point of the prong 30.

The pointed prongs 30 are specifically structured and disposed to bedriven into the top side 82 of the roof panel 80 in order to hold thestrap 20 in proper alignment prior to bending and securing the distalend zones 26, 28 to the beams 70, as described below. Specifically, withthe central zone 24 of the strap properly positioned across the top ofthe roof panel 80, as seen in FIGS. 3-6, the top side 21 of the centralzone 24 is hit with a hammer at the location of each pointed prong 30 tothereby drive the pointed prongs 30 into the top side 82 of the roofpanel 80. The opposite distal end zones 26, 28 can then be bent aroundthe beams and nailed thereto without the central zone of the strapmoving out of proper alignment on the top of the roof panel.

The distal end zones 26 and 28 of the strap are adapted to be rapidlysecured around the underlying support beam 70 so as to anchor the strap20 to the support beam. More particularly, the distal end zones 26 and28 include upper segments 40 and lower securing segments 50. In thepreferred embodiment, the central zone 23 is properly positioned to besubstantially parallel with the underlying support beam 70. As describedabove, penetration of the pointed prongs 30 into the roof panel helps tomaintain the central zone 23 in this desired alignment. The uppersegments 40 are provided with a twist 42 that divide the distal endzones into the top portion 40 and the lower securing segment 50. The topportion 40 extends downwardly in a substantially perpendicularorientation from the central zone 23 of the strap 20, as shown in FIGS.1 and 7. The twist 42 is adapted to rotate the lower securing segment 50so that a top side 21 of the lower securing segments engage the exposedfaces of the support beam. Specifically referring to FIGS. 3-7, the topside of the lower securing segment 50 easily engages one of the sidefaces of the support beam. The securing segment is then hammered asshown in FIGS. 4-6, to effectively wrap the lower securing segment 50 ofthe strap 20 around the bottom face 74 of the support beam and up aroundthe opposite side face 78 of the support beam, with the prongs 30penetrating the support beam to hold the strap in wrapped engagementabout the beam. After being wrapped in place, as seen in FIG. 6, thelower securing segment 50 is more securely fastened to the support beam70 with the use of nails that are received through the several holes 54formed along the length of the securing segments 50.

As shown in FIG. 8, the improved roof securing system 10 of the presentinvention preferably uses a plurality of straps 20 that are securedalong the support beams 70 at the location at where the roof panels 80are secured to the underlying support beams 70. The straps 20 supply asubstantial downward anchoring force on each roof panel 80 so as toreinforce the attachment of the roof panel 80 to the support beams 70 ina manner which discourages uplifting and separation from the supportbeams when exposed to external forces such as hurricane force winds.Additionally, the thickness of the strap 20 serves as a spacer betweenadjacent plywood roof panels 80 for proper vapor ventilation and toallow for expansion of the roof panels in humid condition. Also, in analternative embodiment the individual straps 20 may be disposed as to besubstantially perpendicular to the support beams 70, thereby eliminatingthe need for the twist 42, and merely requiring that the bottom side 22of the strap 20 be wrapped directly about the support beam 70 andfastened thereto with the pointed prongs, as well as nails or othersuitable hardware fasteners.

While the present invention has been shown and described in accordancewith a preferred embodiment thereof, it is recognized that departuresfrom the instant disclosure are contemplated within the spirit and scopeof the invention as defined in the following claims and interpretedunder the Doctrine of Equivalents.

1. A roof securing system for use in the construction of a roof, whereinthe roof includes a plurality of support beams, each having a top face,a bottom face, and a pair of opposite side faces, and including aplurality of roof panels, each having a top surface and a bottomsurface, and the roof panels disposed in overlying, spanning relationatop the top face of at least two of the support beams, said roofsecuring system comprising: at least one elongate steel strap having atop side and a bottom side; said strap further including a central zoneand a pair of oppositely disposed distal end zones extendingperpendicularly from said central zone; a plurality of pointed prongsdisposed in a single linear spaced arrangement along said central zoneand extending downwardly from said bottom side, each of said pluralityof pointed prongs having a triangular configuration with opposite flatfaces, two free side edges extending to a pointed distal apex and a baseremaining intact as an integral part of said elongate steel strap, andsaid pointed prongs being structured and disposed to penetrate into atleast one of the roof panels for holding said strap in a desiredposition with said central zone spanning at least one of the panels suchthat said bottom side of said strap matingly overlies the top surface ofthe roof panel; each of said distal end zones including a lower securingsegment extending downwardly from said central zone of said strap andeach of said distal end zones being structured and disposed to bewrapped about the bottom face and the side faces of the support beam; alinear spaced arrangement of apertures along said elongate steel strapand disposed in alternating sequence with said plurality of pointedprongs along said central zone, and said apertures being structured anddisposed for receiving wood penetrating fasteners therethrough; and saidlower securing segment being structured and disposed to be securelyengaged with the opposite side faces and the bottom face of one of thesupport beams such that said strap and the roof panel become securelyanchored to the support beam.
 2. (canceled)
 3. The roof securing systemas recited in claim 1 wherein said plurality of pointed prongs aredisposed in linear spaced arrangement along said distal end zones andextend from said bottom side.
 4. (canceled)
 5. The roof securing systemas recited in claim 3 wherein said linear spaced arrangement ofapertures are provided along said distal end zones.